tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32439082014-10-09T09:33:24.596+00:00Now and Then<br>
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A South African family abroad - five rock-climbing, left-leaning Unitarian Universalists, trying life in England after almost five years in the USA
</center><br>Annalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10387743078965092362noreply@blogger.comBlogger1418125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243908.post-57329827117171884782011-04-22T11:08:00.001+00:002011-04-22T11:08:19.721+00:00Early morningAnother day of perfect weather. It breaks my heart that mum isn't here to enjoy it.- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhoneAnnalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10387743078965092362noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243908.post-68049053188595720902011-03-23T06:15:00.001+00:002011-03-23T06:15:33.532+00:00Mum died peacefully at home early yesterday evening. It was a beautiful Spring afternoon and the sun was falling on the bed. Dad and I were both with her. She was a wonderful mother, and the most unselfish person I've ever met. Annalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10387743078965092362noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243908.post-61830852374903832862011-01-16T12:51:00.002+00:002011-01-16T12:57:18.630+00:00Poor neglected blogI used to really enjoy keeping this blog, and it was a great record of things we were doing and how I felt about them.These days, though, I don't seem to have either the time or the inclination to update it. Mum is very ill; the breast cancer that she had in 2004 has metastasised to her bones and pancreas. She has been in and out of hospital, and I have been spending as much time with her and Annalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10387743078965092362noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243908.post-7532418342461653922010-11-21T15:02:00.001+00:002010-11-21T15:02:01.000+00:00WorriedMy mom has jaundice. Scan next week. Don't want to think about the possible causes, but obviously am.Annalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10387743078965092362noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243908.post-12527513438436830232010-11-14T14:09:00.001+00:002010-11-14T14:09:12.484+00:00New manGrand Prix on the TV while doing his ironing. Rainy Sunday afternoon filled with chores and marking - but life feels good anyway.Annalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10387743078965092362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243908.post-52835995096589289322010-10-17T17:40:00.001+00:002010-10-18T05:13:35.200+00:00Pictures from todayEarly morning run. 12km, but I ran them (as usual) slowly.On the tube. Guy with mismatched shoes and broken arm, reading Kafka.At Indian restaurant near Covent Garden. Dolls hanging from ceiling.We met up with Steve for lunch; it was lovely to have all five of us together. Masala coke - had spices and mint in it - weirdly nice.Pretty building...Now on train, on way home after having seen and Annalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10387743078965092362noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243908.post-2877161884885039742010-10-12T18:10:00.000+00:002010-10-12T18:10:00.070+00:00Sunset runAt the top of the hill in the park.Am v. tired - open evening at college last night was exhausting. I'm too old for 13 hour days at work. But I'm happy nonetheless ... Chickpea curry simmering, and looking forward to an early night tonight.Annalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10387743078965092362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243908.post-50037354744805924352010-10-01T19:22:00.001+00:002010-10-01T19:22:17.535+00:00Morning walk to workThe light through the trees was amazing yesterday. Rain today, alas.Work is busy as ever. I'm enjoying it though... Just not enough hours in the day.Annalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10387743078965092362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243908.post-3660629659244689582010-09-25T09:03:00.001+00:002010-09-25T09:03:02.341+00:00Graveyard sunrise- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhoneAnnalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10387743078965092362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243908.post-36173529149487057732010-09-21T20:14:00.001+00:002010-09-21T20:14:01.073+00:00In the park tonightSuch a beautiful evening.Gorgeous weather aside, work is going really well this year. I am reusing a lot of the stuff I prepared last year, so my work load is much more manageable. And so far, my classes are all lovely. Long may it last! It's the time of the year when we have to help the upper sixth students with their uni applications - so home and work are rather similar, as Ems is preparing Annalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10387743078965092362noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243908.post-77741497435633709272010-09-18T12:29:00.001+00:002010-09-18T12:29:10.888+00:00They passed!I'm so relieved! All the studying from that stupid book paid off. It's not cheap either - £34 each just to do a computer based test. Still, it's done now. Next step - the dreaded forms. They're on the train, on their way home from Croydon at the moment - waste of a beautiful morning. Though Bobs did manage a run with me early this morning. We went just over 10km, though we did stop a couple of Annalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10387743078965092362noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243908.post-7092286999511137852010-09-17T20:04:00.001+00:002010-09-17T20:04:44.206+00:00Father and sonThe two of them are doing a bit of last minute cramming for the Life in the UK test that they have to write tomorrow.Glad I don't have to do it, as I already have a British passport - those questions are really hard! Population of Wales, anyone?Annalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10387743078965092362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243908.post-15830919567147682172010-09-12T22:20:00.004+00:002010-09-12T22:26:29.625+00:00Portland ClimbingBeautiful day in the late summer sun.Annalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10387743078965092362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243908.post-39343905312030723892010-09-07T07:06:00.001+00:002010-09-07T07:06:40.511+00:00MistGot back from my run to find bits of disembowelled mouse on Sophie's carpet. Let's hope my day is better than the mouse's.Annalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10387743078965092362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243908.post-7470129023393795492010-09-04T07:02:00.000+00:002010-09-04T07:02:43.382+00:00SaturdayAnd the perfect weather continues.From this morning's run through the misty fields...Being back at work this week was exhausting, and it hasn't even got to the busy part yet... Thank goodness for coffee, sunshine and running!Annalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10387743078965092362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243908.post-56071891112330413652010-08-31T20:45:00.003+00:002010-08-31T20:53:38.387+00:00First day back at work...... and I'm exhausted. And it wasn't even a full-on day, just meetings and admin stuff!Yesterday was a brilliant end to the holidays, though. Bobby and I cycled the 40 miles to Brighton, along the back roads. It was a beautiful ride, traffic-free for much of the way. It felt so good to be outside, in the sun, and moving...The last hill almost killed me though. It went on for what seemed likeAnnalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10387743078965092362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243908.post-2480272840869217302010-08-25T09:21:00.000+00:002010-08-25T09:21:00.373+00:00Holiday morningsBeen for a run - slow, but I went just over 10km, so I'm pleased.Home to breakfast, coffee and the Guardian ... aaah.Except Roly has stolen my paper, and he's too cute to dislodge.Annalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10387743078965092362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243908.post-48828946365064176742010-08-24T17:57:00.001+00:002010-08-24T17:57:06.738+00:00Beautiful morning- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhoneAnnalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10387743078965092362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243908.post-18237452298663729142010-08-12T21:07:00.003+00:002010-08-12T21:25:56.464+00:00People before things?I've always prided myself on my lack of materialism, but I must confess, I have fallen in love with my iPhone. To the extent that if someone tried to mug me I think I actually would fight them for it. (To put this is context, when someone mugged me for my wallet years ago, when Stephen was a toddler, I just sort of stood there passively - didn't even yell at them, as I recall).For years, I was Annalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10387743078965092362noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243908.post-80599571661058210002010-08-11T17:42:00.000+00:002010-08-11T17:42:00.253+00:00Vienna TengWe went to hear Vienna Teng play in London last night.Excellent... Would post a link to her music but I'm updating from my phone so it's too fiddly. Had a really good night out - ate at a Syrian restaurant beforehand, and made it onto the last train home afterwards. Tired today though... Old age creeping up?- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhoneAnnalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10387743078965092362noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243908.post-26881547597174166192010-08-10T14:25:00.000+00:002010-08-10T14:25:00.591+00:00Corn field- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhoneAnnalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10387743078965092362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243908.post-34782017790791402992010-08-07T10:41:00.001+00:002010-08-07T10:41:16.771+00:00SaturdayAnnalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10387743078965092362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243908.post-35054450666900997482010-07-21T10:34:00.001+00:002010-07-21T10:34:02.016+00:00Good start to the summerWent on a 10 mile bike ride this morning. Now drinking tea and reading the Guardian. Bliss.Annalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10387743078965092362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243908.post-32047041097866274882010-07-19T05:43:00.001+00:002010-07-19T05:44:05.585+00:00Early morningNow on to the day! Only 1.5 days of work left. Annalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10387743078965092362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243908.post-4004411416146870082010-07-18T20:19:00.001+00:002010-07-18T22:36:21.335+00:00TodayEarly morning run - home by 6.A walk along Lowestoft beach with the girls, Bobby, and my folks.Now on the way home - traffic jam allows view of the Thames at the Dartford Crossing.Should be home by 10... It's been a lovely day.Annalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10387743078965092362noreply@blogger.com0